Jealous of iPhone games

[robotphood]

I think many ppc users don't really have first hand experience with how much a jail broken iphone can actually do. Just because half the iphone owners are teenies who don't even know what a smartphone is doesn't meant it isn't one. I love my diamond in every way but I wouldn't mind having an iphone except for the fact that AT&T was horrible when I was with them (quality/service) and nothing can match my sprint plan.

The iphone truly is crippled out the box but my diamond wasn't nearly as solid without tweaks, hacks and roms. I wouldn't be surprised that eventually (sooner than later) the iphone can do nearly everything our ppcs can do (even though you'd probably have to hack it to pieces). The difference between the games are night and day and better ones are in the horizon. I just don't see WM games competing anytime soon. There seems to be a bigger market/demand on the iphone side. Android looks promising and the phones are changing. Hopefully even WM7 has a shot. I think the gaps between all these phones will decrease for the better.

[x10guy]

Originally Posted by robotphood

I think many ppc users don't really have first hand experience with how much a jail broken iphone can actually do. Just because half the iphone owners are teenies who don't even know what a smartphone is doesn't meant it isn't one. I love my diamond in every way but I wouldn't mind having an iphone except for the fact that AT&T was horrible when I was with them (quality/service) and nothing can match my sprint plan.

Very true.

Getting back to the game theme, my iphone friend says that tons of games keep on coming out weekly. He said that most of them are under $5 with many $.99

Sigh... I'm beginning to think we (WMO) probably won't see most of those games and probably NOT at those prices either. To develop and market a decent WMO game probably costs alot more.

[chronster]

I bought my brother an ipod touch for christmas. It's good, but not great. The iphone doesn't have the same ammount of processeing power, so I think I'm in a fair position to write about my expierence and cast a decent judgement...

First off, the device is NOT as snappy as everyone says. You're simply being mislead by the startup animation. They throw that animation in there to distract you from load times. There were plenty of times where the application startup animation came up, and the screen was white for a second or two. I messed with iDiamond for a few hours and noticed that our phone also seems very snappy when you add this animation to distract you.

The games I played were OK. The best ones were 2d, and the 3D games WERE NOT IMPRESSIVE. Virtual pool mobile on the iphone looks horrible compared to virtual pool mobile on the touch pro. 3D rendering has zero anti aliasing, so the smaller resolution has lots of jagged edges. Just craptastic stuff that I got sick of back when I was playing css on a 32mb video card.

So the 2d games are decent, yes, but the touch pro could play them. Download rats and spears and tell me how smooth it runs. It's just simple 2d gaming. I think our phone is more than capable of playing Topple for instance (the physics processing found in pocket gravity is a good example.) The lower resolution of the iphone adds to it's advantage in performance, but takes away in image quality.

Really it boils down to incentive for companies to create these games. When the xbox 360 came out, PC gaming took a huge hit. Games like rainbow six vegas were just crappy ports of the 360 versions, and there were absolutely no PC-exclusive games. Windows mobile is like PC, and iphone is like the new console. The best we can hope for is a crappy port from an iphone game.

In the long run, I'm glad I bought my brother an ipod touch, he went apesh*t for it. When I was playing on it, I was about as impressed with it as I would be on a nicely designed website with flash and stuff.

[bboyneko]

Bottom line, if you want good gaming get a handheld gaming device like a GP2x F-200, WIZ, Pandora, DS or any of the other tons of handhelds out there.

[Zyphlin]

The reaction people are doing to the iPhone isn't surprising.

I've been around the PPC community since my old Win CE Compaq Aero, and this entire debate is just a rehash of the Palm Vs CE argument.

Its actually kind of funny, becuase early on it was the "productivity" giant Palm against the "entertainment niche" CE devices. Then it became the "User Friendly" Palm vs the "Customizable" PPC.

People have their horse in the race and it makes most people a bit blinded.

I went from the Aero 2100, to the 1500, to the Jornada 545, to the Toshiba 740, e310, ipaq 1900, ipaq 2215, HTC 6700, HTC Mogul, HTC Touch, and now the HTC Diamond.

And each and every one of them had some things I loved. All of them could do a ton of things. However they all shared a few things in common.

Most of my non-gadget loving friends could not pick them up and start using them pretty simply without any instruction. All of them were never customized as much as I invisioned because while the possability was there I just never ended up taking the time. And every one of them had programs put on them hoping to find a better GUI for launching applications and never really getting it.

The closest were the Toshiba's which had a "palm - like" interface that was a step in the right direction. The Touch with its touch cube once we were able to actually edit it was getting closer. The Diamond is still near it. But nothings really touched that issue.

There is a reason why, since the EARLIEST days of Windows CE there was a massive attempt at finding a good, economical, stylish, easy to use launcher for Windows Mobile. Because no version ever really had one.

It was one of Palm's strong points, and its one of the iPhone's strong points.

Windows Mobile is an amazingly platform, great for productivity, great for customization, good for entertainment and media, and relatively poor for "ease of use". For those that want full control of their phone, for those that want to use it almost like a mini-computer, for those that are business oriented or just want a phone that can do a plethora of things...its a great, great system.

The iPhone IS different, but not in the backhanded insulting way that many of the people here have listed. Yes, its for entertainment. Its GREAT for entertainment. The included in box media player for the iPhone trounces Windows Media Player, pours lighter fluid on it, and set it aflame (more on the importance of this later). Even with some of the "better" players, like TCPMP, I'd still take the iPhone's interface over it.

It is not JUST for entertainment though. One poster laughed off another poster listing things that can be done productivity and/or non-entertainment wise on the iPhone because other phones can do it. Do you not realize you can laugh off the PPC being able to do these things FOR THE SAME REASON? So what if other phones can do it, that doesn't change hte fact its erronious to say that the iPhone CAN'T.

I'm currently trying out a iPod Touch to see if I want to get an iPhone on it. For me, I primarily use my phone (outside of phone functions) as an entertainment type thing. Its my MP3 player, its my quick puzzle game player, my TV viewer, my web browser, my IM machine, along with being my organizer. On my touch, just on the first few free apps I went and looked for, I do have some non "entertainment" things.

I've got an app for calculating calorie intake, and tracking food and exercise over a period of time that is better than anything free I've seen on WM. I've got a bank account tracker that is better than MS Money or any free wallet application I've seen on WM. A drink database on par with functionality with the ones I've seen on WM, but far snappier and easier use. An AOL Radio Player to be able to listen to the local FM Talk station that I love. Not to mention quirky things like the urban spoon, a translator, a level, google earth, etc.

Yes, it has lots of "entertainment" things, but to write it off as "only entertainment is foolish".

The iPhone does entertainment great, and does other things like PIM, productivity, etc good, and custimization poorly. (ignore jailbreaking)

Windows Mobile does productivity great, does custimization great but difficult, does PIM a bit above average (But its always been a sore point of WM), does entertainment good.

But here's the point where the iPhone kills Windows Mobile, and the reason why its selling so great.

The iPhone is EASY.

Interface wise, it is so much simpler than Windows Mobile. Its very easy for ANYONE to pick up and instantly figure out how to use it. Its really taken the core beliefs of Palm when they first started making their Pilots and gave it a beautiful new design.

On top of that, its extremely snappy, and it has little things about it that give it a feel of being even snappier. Things load amazingly quick compared to Windows Mobile to my eyes. This is actually helped with the loading animations, that trick the mind into thinking its going even faster. Just in a few days of using it I go back to my diamond and it just feels like it creeps by.

Its also MEANT for touch. God love the Diamond, its an amazing device, but you can only put so much makeup onto the pig. Windows Mobile is not made for being finger friendly and until such a point that Windows 7 comes out focused towards being finger friendly, its just not the same. The responsiveness of the screen, and the size of it, for the iPhone just can't really be compared. This allows for people who are new to these devices to get into the device, using it, and more comfortable MUCH faster than the diamond.

Lets move to the computer if you actually want to find programs for it.

You have one, simple, easy to use repository for everything you could want as an average user for the iPhone. Its all on the App Store, and its all easy find and grab. Is it HARD to find it for Windows Mobile? No (and god its not near as difficult as the day of miphs, arm, etc). But its not really "simple" either. And for the hardcore user like you and I, that's not a big deal...but its huge to the average user.

Same thing with getting things ON the device. I was amazed how much easier it was dealing with iTunes than Activesync is despite it being ages that Activesync has been out. Everything works just simply, and intelligently with it.

Is the iPhone without flaws? Oh hell no. I could go down a list of a dozen of them in a second. It has some serious ones.

But so does Windows Mobile. And the thing that REALLLLLLY bugs me about Windows Mobile is some of those flaws have been there since back when "PocketPC" wasn't even a known name yet.

The problem PPC users have had for so long, be it Palm of iPhone, is they're so self-consious and defensive of their devices that they can't accept that the competition does some things very well and instead of condemning it, we should embrace it.

The iPhone is more than just an "entertainment" machine. I wouldn't suggest it to anyone that really wants a lot of control on their device, or likes gadgets as a hobby and will tweak, play, and mess with it. Who will go and research ROMs and wants to flash their device and download 3 different programs to get every inch of the device to their specifications...

...but if its someone that wants a phone that can do PIM functions, some games, really good media, and is simple to use. That doesn't care so much about a lot of customization and will just want to put on a few programs (or maybe more than a few if its easy to find them) than the iPhone is easily as good a choice, if not a better choice, than Windows Mobile.

[x10guy]

Not really sure why there is even a debate in the first place.

You pick which one you happen to like better. Isn't that the basis of a Free market society. Who really cares which one is better?

I just want some games.

[chronster]

are you kiddin me? I thought I wrote a book about it. I'm not readin that LOL

Originally Posted by Zyphlin

The reaction people are doing to the iPhone isn't surprising.

I've been around the PPC community since my old Win CE Compaq Aero, and this entire debate is just a rehash of the Palm Vs CE argument.

Its actually kind of funny, becuase early on it was the "productivity" giant Palm against the "entertainment niche" CE devices. Then it became the "User Friendly" Palm vs the "Customizable" PPC.

People have their horse in the race and it makes most people a bit blinded.

I went from the Aero 2100, to the 1500, to the Jornada 545, to the Toshiba 740, e310, ipaq 1900, ipaq 2215, HTC 6700, HTC Mogul, HTC Touch, and now the HTC Diamond.

And each and every one of them had some things I loved. All of them could do a ton of things. However they all shared a few things in common.

Most of my non-gadget loving friends could not pick them up and start using them pretty simply without any instruction. All of them were never customized as much as I invisioned because while the possability was there I just never ended up taking the time. And every one of them had programs put on them hoping to find a better GUI for launching applications and never really getting it.

The closest were the Toshiba's which had a "palm - like" interface that was a step in the right direction. The Touch with its touch cube once we were able to actually edit it was getting closer. The Diamond is still near it. But nothings really touched that issue.

There is a reason why, since the EARLIEST days of Windows CE there was a massive attempt at finding a good, economical, stylish, easy to use launcher for Windows Mobile. Because no version ever really had one.

It was one of Palm's strong points, and its one of the iPhone's strong points.

Windows Mobile is an amazingly platform, great for productivity, great for customization, good for entertainment and media, and relatively poor for "ease of use". For those that want full control of their phone, for those that want to use it almost like a mini-computer, for those that are business oriented or just want a phone that can do a plethora of things...its a great, great system.

The iPhone IS different, but not in the backhanded insulting way that many of the people here have listed. Yes, its for entertainment. Its GREAT for entertainment. The included in box media player for the iPhone trounces Windows Media Player, pours lighter fluid on it, and set it aflame (more on the importance of this later). Even with some of the "better" players, like TCPMP, I'd still take the iPhone's interface over it.

It is not JUST for entertainment though. One poster laughed off another poster listing things that can be done productivity and/or non-entertainment wise on the iPhone because other phones can do it. Do you not realize you can laugh off the PPC being able to do these things FOR THE SAME REASON? So what if other phones can do it, that doesn't change hte fact its erronious to say that the iPhone CAN'T.

I'm currently trying out a iPod Touch to see if I want to get an iPhone on it. For me, I primarily use my phone (outside of phone functions) as an entertainment type thing. Its my MP3 player, its my quick puzzle game player, my TV viewer, my web browser, my IM machine, along with being my organizer. On my touch, just on the first few free apps I went and looked for, I do have some non "entertainment" things.

I've got an app for calculating calorie intake, and tracking food and exercise over a period of time that is better than anything free I've seen on WM. I've got a bank account tracker that is better than MS Money or any free wallet application I've seen on WM. A drink database on par with functionality with the ones I've seen on WM, but far snappier and easier use. An AOL Radio Player to be able to listen to the local FM Talk station that I love. Not to mention quirky things like the urban spoon, a translator, a level, google earth, etc.

Yes, it has lots of "entertainment" things, but to write it off as "only entertainment is foolish".

The iPhone does entertainment great, and does other things like PIM, productivity, etc good, and custimization poorly. (ignore jailbreaking)

Windows Mobile does productivity great, does custimization great but difficult, does PIM a bit above average (But its always been a sore point of WM), does entertainment good.

But here's the point where the iPhone kills Windows Mobile, and the reason why its selling so great.

The iPhone is EASY.

Interface wise, it is so much simpler than Windows Mobile. Its very easy for ANYONE to pick up and instantly figure out how to use it. Its really taken the core beliefs of Palm when they first started making their Pilots and gave it a beautiful new design.

On top of that, its extremely snappy, and it has little things about it that give it a feel of being even snappier. Things load amazingly quick compared to Windows Mobile to my eyes. This is actually helped with the loading animations, that trick the mind into thinking its going even faster. Just in a few days of using it I go back to my diamond and it just feels like it creeps by.

Its also MEANT for touch. God love the Diamond, its an amazing device, but you can only put so much makeup onto the pig. Windows Mobile is not made for being finger friendly and until such a point that Windows 7 comes out focused towards being finger friendly, its just not the same. The responsiveness of the screen, and the size of it, for the iPhone just can't really be compared. This allows for people who are new to these devices to get into the device, using it, and more comfortable MUCH faster than the diamond.

Lets move to the computer if you actually want to find programs for it.

You have one, simple, easy to use repository for everything you could want as an average user for the iPhone. Its all on the App Store, and its all easy find and grab. Is it HARD to find it for Windows Mobile? No (and god its not near as difficult as the day of miphs, arm, etc). But its not really "simple" either. And for the hardcore user like you and I, that's not a big deal...but its huge to the average user.

Same thing with getting things ON the device. I was amazed how much easier it was dealing with iTunes than Activesync is despite it being ages that Activesync has been out. Everything works just simply, and intelligently with it.

Is the iPhone without flaws? Oh hell no. I could go down a list of a dozen of them in a second. It has some serious ones.

But so does Windows Mobile. And the thing that REALLLLLLY bugs me about Windows Mobile is some of those flaws have been there since back when "PocketPC" wasn't even a known name yet.

The problem PPC users have had for so long, be it Palm of iPhone, is they're so self-consious and defensive of their devices that they can't accept that the competition does some things very well and instead of condemning it, we should embrace it.

The iPhone is more than just an "entertainment" machine. I wouldn't suggest it to anyone that really wants a lot of control on their device, or likes gadgets as a hobby and will tweak, play, and mess with it. Who will go and research ROMs and wants to flash their device and download 3 different programs to get every inch of the device to their specifications...

...but if its someone that wants a phone that can do PIM functions, some games, really good media, and is simple to use. That doesn't care so much about a lot of customization and will just want to put on a few programs (or maybe more than a few if its easy to find them) than the iPhone is easily as good a choice, if not a better choice, than Windows Mobile.

[x10guy]

Originally Posted by Zyphlin

The problem PPC users have had for so long, be it Palm of iPhone, is they're so self-consious and defensive of their devices that they can't accept that the competition does some things very well and instead of condemning it, we should embrace it.

That is actually a very good point.

[Success100]

Originally Posted by x10guy

That is actually a very good point.

a damn good point. from a capability standpoint...WM owns ALL. But from a usability and UI standpoint...even with tf3d...WM is STILL way behind the curve. I am open to try anything...and as MUCH AS I LOVE WM..im still debating on getting a Iphone also...and im also looking at the new Palm Pre..Microsoft has ALOT of catching up to do if they want to keep up

[mrspeedmaster]

My comments from a newbie in this board.
I've been using WinMo since 1996 when it was called Pegasus. I had the 1st Philips Velo1, Sharp Mobilion, several Jornadas, IBM z50, Dell Axim x51v, MotoQ and now
a HTC Touch pro.

I carry both a iPhone 3G and the HTC TouchPro with me. I have unlimited data plans on both. The HTC is my work phone that I requested from my employer.

I love the HTC Touch Pro because I need tethering (pdanet/wmwifirouter), I like the GPS apps - iGo8/Garmin/MS Live Search. I like the fact I can load it
up with PDFs, FLVs (yes, FLVs downloaded from youtube using a WinMo App), Mp4, Divxs, etc, ability to play flash and Java JAR files.


However, I am impressed with my iPhone (1st gen and 3G). In the short time they've existed, the iPhone has been awesome.
Mobile Safari is much better than opera/skyfire/whatever. The only thing the HTC Touch has going for it is Flash, the ability to download file and the keyboard.
For casual browsing (craigslist), the Iphone rocks.
I'm impressed with the Cisco VPN clien which came free with the 3G. I can VPN in and VNC to my machine. I can't do that with my HTC Touch. I need VPN.

I am impressed by the breadth of good quality applications for the 3G.
In short order -- The Weather Channel, Flixster, ABC News, and many of the GPS-based assited apps.
For example, I can turn on Flixster, the GPS links to my local movie theathers and I can watch trailers and buy tickets with my iPhone. ABC news has a local channel that I can watch news segments.
The Weather Channel App has video. All these apps work coherently and smoothly.

On WinMo, I can use MS Live Search to get local movies but no trailers, no instant purchases. Too many clicks on WinMo to get the same functionality.

With the Iphone,there are a lot of great radio apps like Pandora, Slacker, AOL Radio,etc. You can actually buy things with the Amazon and ebay apps.
The sheer amount of quality apps in less than a year is simply amazing. Sure, there are a bunch of snoozers and lame "hello world
apps."

WinMo has some great apps like Skype and IGo but if I had to choose, I would easily pick the Iphone.
Believe it or not, I like ITunes. I like how I can download youtube in mp4 (with greasemonkey scripts) amnd sync it with Itunes. All the album art works.

With WinMo, Media Player sucks. Why do they rely on using folder.jpgs for album/cover art is beyond me. You can' simply copies music files over to WiMo via the SDHC card if you want playlists and album art. You have to use the Desktop Media Player and it blows.
I've tried the Core Player, Kinomo, Conduit Pocket Player and they all suck.


Fortunately for me, I dont have to choose, I like using both phones.